CHAPTER XXII.
HOW SAINT ANNE COMPUED WITH THE LAW OF MOSES IN REGARD TO CHILDBIRTH ; AND HOW MOST HOLY MARY ACTED IN HER INFANCY.
第二十二章
圣亚纳如何按照梅瑟的法律完成了分娩; 至圣玛利亚在她的婴儿期是如何表现的。
345. It was a precept of the law, given in the twelfth chapter of Leviticus, that a woman who had given birth to a daughter should be deemed impure for two weeks and should remain in the state of purification for sixty six days after the birth, just double the time required for purification in case of a man-child Having completed the days of her purification. she was to present herself in order to offer a lamb one year old as a holocaust for the daughter or the son, and also a young pigeon or turtle-dove as atonement for the sin.
345.这是法律的一个诫命,在《肋未纪》第十二章规定,生育女儿的妇女应被视为两周的不洁,并将在孩子出生后六十六天保持洁净状态 ,是生育男孩的所需的洁净时间的两倍。她应奉献自己,并为她的女儿或儿子献上一只一岁大的羔羊作为全燔祭,也要为赎罪献上一只鸽子或斑鸠。
This she was to do at the door of the tabernacle, beseeching the priest to offer them to the Lord and to pray for her; thereupon she was accounted pure. The parturition of the most happy Anne was pure and undefiled, as befitting her heavenly Daughter, in whose purity the mother was a sharer.
妇女要做的是在会幕的门口,恳求司祭将它们献给上主并为她祈祷;于是她被认为是洁净的。由于最幸福的亚纳的分娩是纯洁而洁净的,正好适合她的天堂的女儿,在玛利亚的纯洁中母亲是个分享者。
Although on this account there was no need of a special purification, she nevertheless complied with the obligation of the law to the very last point. Though not subject to its penalties, she considered herself bound in the eyes of men.
尽管由于这个原因不需要特别的净化,但圣亚纳仍然完全遵守了法律的义务。尽管她不需要遵守赎罪祭的规定(她是超自然分勉的),但她认为自己应在人前满全这个诫命。
346. Sixty days of the purification having passed, saint Anne departed for the temple, her mind inflamed with divine ardor and bearing in her arms her blessed Daughter and Child. With the offerings prescribed by law and accompanied by innumerable angels, she betook herself to the gate of the temple and spoke with the high priest, who was none other than Simeon.
346. 六十天的洁净期过去了,圣亚纳前往圣殿,心中充满了神圣的热情,怀抱着她那真福的“女儿”和“孩子”。携带着法律规定的贡物并在无数天使的陪伴下,她来到圣殿的门口,与大祭司交谈,而那大司祭正是西默盎。
He was accustomed to spend much time in the temple and enjoyed the privilege and favor of seeing the child Mary, not only when She was offered and presented to the Lord in the temple, but on other occasions. Although this holy priest was not on each of these occasions fully aware of the dignity of our heavenly Mistress, as I will say farther on(No. 423, 710, 742), yet he always experienced great promptings and impulses of the spirit regarding the greatness of this Child in the sight of God.
大司祭西默盎通常在圣殿里度过很多时间,并享有见到婴孩玛利亚的特权和恩惠,(这特惠)不仅是当玛利亚献主耶稣于主堂时,还有其他场合。尽管这位神圣的司祭并不是在每种情况下都充分意识到我们天上主母的尊严,正如我将进一步在后面说明(第423、710和742号),但关于这个孩子在天主眼中的伟大,西默盎始终在精神上经验到极大的激励和鼓舞。
347. Saint Anne offered to him the lamb and the turtle-dove with the rest of the gifts, and with tears of humility she asked him to pray for herself and the Child, her Daughter, that the Lord forgive them any fault of which perhaps they might be guilty.
His Majesty certainly had nothing to forgive in a Daughter and mother, who were so full of grace ; but He found Himself bound to reward the humility, with which notwithstanding their holiness they presented themselves as sinners. The holy priest received the oblation and in his spirit he was in flamed and moved to extraordinary joy.
347.圣亚纳把羔羊和斑鸠以及其余的礼物献给了大司祭,并带着谦卑的眼泪请他为她自己和她的女儿祈祷,求天主宽赦她们可能犯的任何过错。
至尊的天主对这满被圣宠的女儿和母亲的谦卑、听命、服从非常满意,他知道她们没有犯罪,尽管她们很圣洁,但她们还是称自己为罪人。这位虔诚的司祭接受了祭品,他的灵魂燃烧着热情,并被超乎寻常的喜悦所感动。
Careful not to manifest anything exteriorly and communing with himself, he said; “What strange feeling is this within me? Are these women perhaps the parents of the Messias, who is to come?” Moved by this joyful suspense he showed them great benevolence. The blessed mother Anne entered the temple, bearing her most holy Daughter on her arms, and She offered Her to the Lord with most devout and tender tears. For she alone in all the world knew what Treasure was given into her charge.
西默盎小心翼翼地不在外表上表现出对她们的恭敬,他对自己说:「我内心有多么奇怪的感觉啊?或许这两位女人就是即将来临的默西亚的母亲?」他为这个快乐的悬念所感动,向她们展示了极大的仁慈。蒙福的母亲亚纳进入圣殿,怀抱着她至圣洁女儿,并用最虔诚和温柔的眼泪将圣婴玛利亚献给上主。因为全世界只有她一个人知道这宝藏是赐给她来照顾的。
348. Saint Anne renewed the vow, which she had already made, to offer her Firstborn to the temple on arriving at the proper age. In renewing this offer she was enlightened by new graces and promptings of the Most High, and in her heart she heard a secret voice urging her to fulfill this vow and offer her Child to the temple within three years.
348.圣亚纳重申了她已经发过的誓言,即在她首生的孩子到达适当年龄时将她献给圣殿。在更新这个奉献时,她被至高者的新恩宠所启示和激励,在她的心中听到了一个神秘的声音,敦促她履行这一誓言,并在三年之内把她的孩子献给圣殿。
It was as it were the echo of the voice of the most holy Queen, who in her prayer touched the heart of God, in order that it might resound in the bosom of the mother. For when both entered the temple, the sweet Child seeing with her bodily eyes its grandeur and magnificence, dedicated to the worship and adoration of the Divinity, experienced wonderful effects of the Spirit and wished to prostrate Herself in the temple, to kiss its floor, and adore the Lord.
这就好像至圣元后声音的回声,在她的祈祷中她感动了天主的心,为使声音回荡在母亲的怀抱中。因为当两个人都进入圣殿时,甜蜜的孩子用她的肉眼看着圣殿的宏伟和壮丽,致力朝拜和倾崇天主,体验了圣神的奇妙效果,并希望在圣殿里俯伏朝拜,亲吻圣殿的地板,并崇拜天主。
But as She could not execute these desires in external actions, She supplied the defect with interior fervor, and She adored and blessed the Lord with a love more ardent, and a humility more profound than ever before or ever after was possible to be rendered by any creature.
但是,由于玛利亚无法通过外在行动来实现这些愿望,因此她用内在的热情弥补了这个缺憾,她以一种前所未有的热烈的爱和前所未有的谦卑,来朝拜和赞美天主。
Addressing the Lord in her heart, She offered the following prayer :
玛利亚在心中向上主献上以下祈祷:
349. “Most high and incomprehensible God, my King and my Lord, worthy of all glory and reverence, I, abject dust, but also a creature of thine, adore Thee in this thy holy place and temple. I magnify and exalt Thee on account of thy infinite Being and perfections, and I give thanks in as far as my insignificance is worthy of thy regard.
349. 「至高而无限的天主,我的君王,我的上主,堪当一切荣耀和崇敬,我,卑微的尘埃,但也是祢的受造物,在祢这圣殿的圣所中朝拜祢。由于您无限的存在和完美,我显扬赞美祢,并且,承蒙祢对微不足道的我的看顾,我献上我的感恩。
For Thou hast vouchsafed to permit my eyes to see this holy temple and house of prayer, where thy holy Prophets and my forefathers have worshipped and blessed Thee, and where thy generous mercy has wrought so many wonders and mysteries in their behalf.
因为祢赐给我的眼睛能看见这个圣殿和祈祷所,祢的圣先知和我的祖先曾在这里朝拜并赞美祢,在这里,祢的慷慨慈悲为他们的益处创造了许多奇迹和奥秘。
Accept me, O Lord, in order that I may serve Thee in this holy house according to thy blessed will.”
天主啊,求你接纳我,以便我按照祢的圣意在圣所里侍奉祢。
350. Thus She who was the Queen of heaven and of the universe, offered Herself as if She were the lowest slave of the Lord. As a testimony of its acceptation by the Most High, a most resplendent light shone down from heaven, enveloping the mother and Child, and filling them with new splendors of grace.
350.因此,玛利亚,这个天堂和宇宙的元后,奉献她自己,好像她是主最低微的奴隶。作为至高者接受这奉献的证据,一道最灿烂的光芒从天上射下,笼罩着母女,使她们充满光辉的新圣宠。
Again saint Anne was made aware that she would be expected to devote her Daughter to the temple within three years; she was given to understand that the delight with which God looked forward to such an offer, and the love with which the heavenly Child desired its consummation would not permit a longer delay.
圣亚纳再次意识到,她被期望在三年之内将女儿奉献给圣殿;天主使她明白,天主期待着这样的奉献所带来的喜悦,以及天堂的孩子渴望圆满的爱,不能允许拖延更长的时间。
The holy angels of her guard and innumerable others who were present on this occasion sang sweetest songs of praise to the Author of these wonders ; but they did not therefore have a more perfect knowledge of these happenings than saint Anne or her most holy Daughter, who perceived interiorly what was spiritual, and felt exteriorly what was subject to the senses in these things.
玛利亚圣洁的护守天使及无数在场的天使为这些奇观的作者唱了最甜美的赞美诗歌,然而天使们对这些发生的事,不如圣亚纳或她至圣女儿有更完美的认知,她们俩在内里领受属灵之事,并以官能外在地感受到这些事情。
Saint Simeon saw dimly the sensible light. Thereupon saint Anne, rich in her Treasure and endowed with new gifts of the most high God, returned to her home.
圣西默盎朦胧中看到了可见之光。于是,圣亚纳满载“宝藏”和至高者赐予的新恩惠,回到了她的家。
351. The ancient serpent eagerly observed all these events. Yet the Lord concealed from him what he was not to know, and permitted him to obtain knowledge only of what was necessary for his own undoing in his desire of destroying others and only so much as might serve to make him an instrument in the execution of the secret judgments of the Most High.
351.古蛇急切地想观察到所有这些事件。然而,天主向牠隐瞒了牠不应知道的一切,只允许牠了解牠企图将人投入混乱的毁灭之中的欲望所必需的知识,并只允许牠成为执行至高者秘密审判的工具。
This enemy was full of conjectures in regard to the unheard of things, which had come to pass in connection with this Mother and Child. But when he saw that they brought offerings to the temple and that they, like sinners, observed the prescriptions of the law, even begging of the priest to intercede for their forgiveness; he was deceived and assuaged in his fury, believing that this mother and her Daughter were of ordinary condition although they might be more perfect and holy than other women.
这个仇敌充满了对闻所未闻的与这个母亲和孩子有关事物的猜测。但是,当牠看到她们把祭品带到圣殿,她们像罪人一样,遵守法律的规定,甚至乞求司祭为她们代祷、请求宽恕;仇敌被这情景蒙骗了,并且牠的愤怒得到了缓解,牠认为这母亲和女儿的状况很普通,尽管她们可能比其他女人更成全、更圣洁。
352. The sovereign Child was treated like other children of her age. Her nourishment was of the usual kind, though less in quantity; and so was her sleep, although her parents were solicitous that She take more sleep.
352.至尊的婴孩受到的对待和其他同龄的孩子一样。她的食物很普通,尽管数量较少;她的睡眠也是如此,尽管她的父母恳求她多睡一会。
She was not troublesome, nor did She ever cry for mere annoyance, as is done by other children, but She was most amiable and caused no trouble to anybody. That She did not act in this regard as other children caused no wonder; for She often wept and sighed (as far as her age and her dignity of Queen and Mistress would permit) for the sins of the world and for its Redemption through the coming of the Savior.
她不惹人烦,也不会像别的孩子那样因为烦恼而哭,但她非常和蔼可亲,不会给任何人带来麻烦。她没有像其他同龄孩子那样的行为;因为她常常为世界的罪恶和即将来临拯救世人的救赎主的苦难而哭泣和叹息(以她的年龄及元后和主母的尊严所允许的)。
Ordinarily She maintained, even in her infancy, a pleasant countenance, yet mixed with gravity and a peculiar Majesty, never showing any childishness. She sometimes permitted Herself to be caressed, though, by a secret influence and a certain outward austerity, She knew how to repress the imperfections connected with such endearments.
在她的幼年时期,她通常保持着一副愉快的面容,但又掺杂着庄重和特殊的威严,从不显露出任何孩子气。不过,她有时允许自己被怜爱,借着一种神秘的影响和某种外在的克苦,她知道如何克制这种怜爱带来的不完美。
Her prudent mother Anne treated her Child with incomparable solicitude and caressing tenderness; also her father Joachim loved Her as a father and as a saint, although he was ignorant of the mystery at that time.
谨慎的母亲亚纳以无比的关怀和温柔的爱抚对待她的孩子。孩子的父亲雅敬也以父亲和圣徒的爱来爱她,尽管他当时不知道这个奥秘。
The Child on its part showed a special love toward him, as one whom She knew for her father and one much beloved of God. Although She permitted more tender caresses from her father than from others, yet God inspired the father as well as all others, with such an extraordinary reverence and modesty towards Her whom He had chosen for his Mother, that even his pure and fatherly affection was outwardly manifested only with the greatest moderation and reserve.
孩子对雅敬表现出一种特殊的爱,因为她知道他是她的父亲,并且是天主深爱的一位。虽然她允许父亲比其他人更温柔地爱抚她,但天主启发雅敬和所有其他人,对天主选为母亲的亚纳表现出非凡的尊敬和谦逊,甚至雅敬纯洁的父爱在外表上也表现得极其温和和克制。
353. In all things the infant Queen was most gracious, perfect and admirable. Though She passed her infancy subject to the common laws of nature, yet this did not hinder the influx of grace.
353.在各方面,襁褓中的婴孩元后都是最仁慈、最完美、最令人钦佩的。尽管她的婴儿期受自然法则的约束,但这并不妨碍圣宠的涌入。
During her sleep her interior acts of love, and all other exercises of her faculties which were not dependent on the exterior senses, were never interrupted.
在她睡觉的时候,她内心的爱的行动,以及其他一切不依赖于外部感官的官能的活动,从来没有中断过。
This special privilege is possible also in other creatures, if the divine power confers it on them; but it is certain that in regard to Her whom He had chosen as his Mother and the Queen of all creation, He extended this special favor beyond all previous or subsequent measure in other creatures and beyond the conception of any created mind.
如果天主的权能赐予了其他受造物这种特权,那他们也可能拥有这特殊的特权;但是可以肯定的是,由于创造天地之先,玛利亚已被天主特选为他圣子降生成人的母亲,所以圣母是受造物中最纯洁最神圣的,这种纯洁和神圣超越了以前和以后其他创造物,也超越了任何创受造物心灵所能想象的。
God spoke to Samuel and to other saints and Prophets in their sleep, (I Reg. 3, 4) and to many He sent mysterious dreams or visions (Genes. 37; 5, 9) for to his Omnipotence it is easy to enlighten the mind during the inactivity of the senses in natural sleep or during their ravishment in ecstasy; they cease to act in the one as well as in the other, and without their activity the soul hears, accepts and transacts the things of the Spirit.
天主对撒慕尔和其他圣徒和先知在他们的睡眠中说话(撒慕尔纪上3:4),祂并向许多人发送奥秘的梦境或异像(创世记37:5,9),因为祂的全能很容易启发在自然睡眠中感官不活跃的心灵或在神魂超拔中的超性灵魂;他们的一个或其它的感官停止行动,在没有感官活动的情况下,灵魂就会听到、接受、并处理属神的事物。
[经文〈撒慕尔纪上3:4〉:那时,上主召叫说:「撒慕尔,撒慕尔!」他回答说:「我在这里﹗」。经文〈创世记37:5,9〉:若瑟作了一梦,讲给哥哥们听,因此他们越发恼恨他。他又作了一梦,也告诉他哥哥们说:「我又作了一梦:梦见太阳和月亮并十一颗星辰向我下拜。」 ]
This was the rule which the Queen followed from the moment of her Conception till now and for all eternity ; for the activity of grace in Her during Her pilgrimage through life was not intermittent, like in other creatures.
这就是元后从怀孕那一刻起,一直到现在,直到永远所遵循的规则。因为在她一生的朝圣之旅中,天主的圣宠一直与她同在,并不像其他受造物那样是断断续续的。
When She was alone, or when She was laid to sleep, which was in Her most moderate, She was engaged in the contemplation of the mysteries and the excellencies of the Most High, and in the enjoyment of the divine visions and the conversation of his Majesty.
当玛利亚独自一人,或者当她处于最有节制的睡眠中时,她就开始默想至高者的奥秘和卓越,并享受着上主的神视异象和情不自禁地融入与至高者天主的言谈之中。
Her intercourse with the angels was likewise very frequent and in the following chapter something will be said of the manner of their manifestation and of some of their eminent perfections.
她与天使的交流也非常频繁,在下一章中,将谈到他们的表现方式和一些杰出的完美。
354. My Queen and heavenly Lady, if without being offended, Thou wilt, as a kind Mother, listen to my ignorant talk, I will ask of thy kindness the solution of some doubts which have occurred to me in this chapter.
354.我的元后和天上的圣母,如果您没有受到冒犯,您会作为一个善良的母亲而倾听我无知的谈话,我想要请求您的仁慈,解决我在这一章中产生的一些疑问。
If my ignorance and boldness should transgress the limits, instead of answering me, my Mistress, correct me with maternal mercy. My doubt is : Whether in this thy infancy Thou didst feel the necessities and hunger which according to the natural order, children do feel?
如果我的无知和冒失超过限度,我的主母,请不要回答我,而以母亲的怜悯来纠正我。我的疑问是:在您的婴儿期,是否感到在自然规律下孩子们的需要和饥饿感?
And if Thou didst feel them, how didst Thou suffer these annoying inconveniences? And how didst Thou ask for the nourishment and the other help necessary, since Thou wast so wonderfully patient that Thou wouldst not make use of tears, which serve other infants as speech and words?
如果您感觉到了饥饿和需要,那么您如何忍受这些恼人的不便之苦呢?既然您如此奇妙的有耐心,以至于您不会使用眼泪这个作为其他婴儿话语和语言的东西,那么您又是如何要求喂养和其它必要的帮助的呢?
I am also ignorant, whether the hardships of that age were not most irksome to thy Majesty, such as to have thy virginal body clothed and unclothed as infants are, to be fed with the food of other children, and to undergo the other experiences of that age?
我也不知道在您那个年龄段的艰辛是否令陛下您感到厌烦,例如让您的贞女的身体像婴儿一样穿衣或不穿衣服,吃别的孩子都吃的食物,并经历那个年龄段的孩子的其它的经历。
For other children undergo them bereft of reason, while nothing was concealed from Thee, O Lady. When I look upon Thee as a child in age and yet as grown up in thy capacity of judging of things, it seems to me almost impossible that there should have been no inconveniences in this matter, in the time or the measure, or in other circumstances regarding the treatment allotted to Thee during thy infant life.
对于其他孩子来说,他们缺乏理智,哦,圣母,对您却没有任何是隐藏的。当我以小孩子的年龄看待你,尽管您的判断事物能力成长,但在我看来,在这个问题上,无论在时间上、方式上、还是在其它有关您婴儿时期被照顾的方面,您都没有不便之处,这几乎是不可能的。
Thy celestial prudence taught Thee to preserve dignity and composure, yet Thou didst not intimate the wants and needs of thy age and condition either by crying, as an infant, or by word of mouth, as one grown up.
您属天的谨慎教会了您保持尊严和沉着的状态,但是您并没有通过像婴儿那样啼哭,或长大后的张口说话,来提出满足年龄和身体状况的缺乏和需要。
Thus they could not know thy needs and could not treat Thee as one endowed with reason; for even thy mother could not know all these things, nor could she provide for all that was necessary, since she knew not the time nor the manner of serving thy Majesty in all things. All these considerations excite my admiration and arouse in me the desire of knowing the mysteries thus concealed.
这样,他们不知道您的需要,也不能把您当作有理智的(成年)人;因为即使您的母亲也不知道所有这些事情,也无法提供所有必要的东西,因为她不知道在所有事上侍奉至尊的您的时间或方式。所有这些考虑激发了我的钦崇之情,唤起我的欲望,想知道如此隐藏的秘密。
ANSWER AND INSTRUCTION OF THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN.
355. My daughter, since thou art full of wonder, I will inform thee in all kindness. It is true that I was in possession of grace and of the use of reason from the first instant of my Conception, as I have so often shown thee ;
天堂元后的回答和指导:
355.我的女儿,既然您充满惊奇,我将以所有的善意告知您。确实,从我受孕的第一刻起,我就拥有了圣宠和理性的运用,正如我经常向你展示的那样;
I underwent the hardships of infancy as other children and I was reared and treated as others of the same condition. I felt hunger, thirst, sleepiness and other infirmities of the body, and as a daughter of Adam I was subject to these accidental necessities;
我和其他孩子一样经历了婴儿期的艰辛,我被抚养和对待像其他状况相同的孩子一样。我感到身体的饥饿、口渴、困倦、和其他身体不适,作为亚当的女儿,我受制于这些随机发生的需求。
for it was just that I should imitate my most holy Son, who subjected Himself to these hardships and defects, in order that He might merit so much the more and in order that He might be an example to the rest of mortals for their imitation.
因为我只是要效法我的至圣圣子,祂使自己遭受这些艰辛和缺乏,以便祂能获得更多的功劳,并成为其他人的榜样。
As I was governed by divine grace, I made use of eating and sleep in moderation, allowing myself less than others, and only so much as was proper for the augmentation and the preservation of my life and health.
当我受天主圣宠的支配时,我适度地利用饮食和睡眠,让自己比别人少,只需增长和维护我的生命和健康的适当数量。
Disorder in these things is not only against virtue, but against the well-being of nature itself, which is invaded and ravaged by it. On account of my exquisite composition I was affected by hunger and thirst more painfully than other children;
这些事物(饥饿、口渴、困倦、不适)的混乱不仅不利于美德,而且一旦被混乱侵扰和破坏,就不利于天然本身的福祉。由于我的精致的构成,我比其他孩子更容易遭受饥饿和口渴的影响。
and the want of nourishment was more dangerous to me; but if it was given to me at unseasonable times, or in excess, I bore it with patience, until by some befitting sign I could manifest my needs.
缺乏食物对我来说更危险;但是,如果给我的喂养在不合宜的时候或过量,我会耐心地忍受它,直到借着一些合适的迹象我可以用来表明我的需要。
I felt less the want of sleep on account of the opportunity which it furnished me for the presence and the heavenly conversation of the angels.
由于得见天使的面和与天使的属天交谈,使我感到更少的睡眠需求。
356. That I was bound and wrapped in clothes was not painful to me, but it was a cause of much joy, for I understood by divine light, that the incarnate Lord was to suffer a most cruel death and was to be bound most shamefully.
356.我被束缚和包裹在襁褓里并没有让我痛苦,但却带来了极大的喜乐,因为我从上主的光照下了解到,降生成人的主将遭受最残酷的死亡,将被最耻辱地捆绑。
Whenever I was alone during my childhood I placed myself in the form of a cross, praying in imitation of Him; for I knew that my Beloved was to die in that position, although I did not know then that the Crucified was to be my Son.
在我的童年中,每当我一个人的时候,我都会把自己摆成十字架的形式,以模仿祂的方式祈祷;因为我知道我的挚爱将死在那个位置上,尽管那时我还不知道钉在十字架上的将是我的儿子。
In all the difficulties, which I underwent after I was born into the world, I was resigned and contented, for I never lost sight of one consideration, which I desire thee always to keep in mind.
在我出生后经历的所有困难中,我都服从并满足,因为我从未忘记一件事情,我希望你始终牢记这一点。
It is this : that thou ponder in thy heart and in thy soul the truths, which I saw, so that thou mayest form a correct judgment of all things, giving to each that esteem and value which is its due.
那就是:你要在你的心里和灵魂里思考我所看见的真理,以便对一切事物形成一个正确的判断,给予每一事物应有的尊重和价值。
In regard to this the children of Adam are ordinarily full of error and blindness, but I desire that thou, my daughter, share it not with them.
关于这一点,亚当的子孙们通常充满了错误和盲目,但我希望你,我的女儿,不要跟他们一样。
357. As soon as I was born into the world and made aware of the light, which shone upon me, I felt the effects of the elements, the influence of the planets and of the stars, of the earth which sustained me, of the nourishments which preserved me, and of all the other things of this life.
357.当我出生于世,意识到光照耀着我时,我就感到了支撑我的元素影响,行星、恒星和大地的影响,维持我的营养以及我这一生所有其它事物的影响。
I gave thanks to the Author of all things, acknowledging his works as benefits freely bestowed upon me, and not as dues, which He owed to me.
我感谢创造万物的天主,承认祂所造的一切是无条件、无止境、白白赐给我的,为了我的益处,祂的恩典是我原本不配、却无功受禄得来的,而不是祂欠我的应得之物。
Therefore, when anything was wanting of the necessaries of life I remained in peace and contentedness and deemed it all perfectly reasonable and proper in my regard, since I had merited none of the gifts and could justly be deprived of all of them.
因此,当生活必需品缺乏时,我仍能保持平静和满足,并认为这一切在我看来都是理所当然的,因为我不配得到任何恩赐和礼物,剥夺它们也是合理的。
Hence, if I acknowledged this, thereby merely asserting a truth which the human reason cannot ignore nor deny, where have mortals their intellect, or what use do they make of their understanding when, at the refusal of things which they desire and of which perhaps they do not even profit, they begin to get sad and lash themselves into fury one against the other, and even against their God, as if they were suffering some injury at his hands? Let them inquire what treasures and riches they did possess before they came into life?
因此,如果我承认这一点,从而只是坚持一个真理,这真理是人类理性不能忽略也不能否认的:世人的智力在哪里?或者使他们明白这些有什么用?当拒绝他们欲望的东西,或者对他们甚至没有好处的东西,他们就开始感到悲伤,并将他们自己绑在愤怒中,彼此反对,甚至反对天主,好像他们在天主手中受了伤害一样?让他们问一问,他们在他们来到这个世界前,曾拥有了什么宝藏和财富?
What services had they rendered unto God in order to merit them? And if out of nothing there cannot arise anything, and if they could not merit the being which they have received, what obligation is there on the part of God to preserve out of justice, what was given to them
entirely gratuitously ?
他们所有的,哪一样不是从天主那里领受的呢?他们回报天主以什么样的侍奉呢?如果从虚无中不能产生任何东西,如果他们不配他们所领受的生命,那么天主有什么义务出于公义保护他们,天主有什么义务完全平白无故的赐予了他们什么呢?
That God created man was of no benefit to Himself; but to man it was a benefit, and one as great as the being given to him, and as high as the object for which it was given.
天主创造人对祂自己没有任何好处。但是对人来说却是一种好处,因天主为了同样崇高的目的,遂给了人同样伟大的生命。
And if in his creation man becomes indebted so much that he never can pay his debt, tell me what right can he invoke at present for his preservation? Has he not received his being without merit and many times forfeited it? How can he claim the guarantee and pledge of unfailing plenty?
如果在天主的创造中,人负债累累,以至于他永远无法偿还债务,请告诉我他目前有什么权利可以呼求来保存自己的财产?他难道没有白白地得到自己的生命,并又多次丧失了生命吗?他怎么能要求无尽丰富的保证和许诺呢?
358. If the first transaction and operation was a mortgage and a debt by which man binds himself, how can he with such impatience demand favors? And if in spite of all this, the supreme goodness of the Creator furnishes him graciously with what is necessary, why should he be agitated by the want of superfluities?
358.如果第一笔交易和操作是抵押和债务,人被这债务束缚了,那么他怎能如此急躁地要求恩惠?如果尽管如此,造物主的至高良善慷慨地提供了他必需的东西,为什么他还要为额外东西的缺乏而焦躁不安呢?
O my daughter, what an execrable disorder and what a despicable blindness of mortals is this? For that, which the Lord gives them gratuitously, they do not thank Him, or even give Him acknowledgment, and for that which He denies them justly and sometimes most mercifully, they are restless and proudly desirous, and they try to procure it by unjust and forbidden means, throwing themselves into the very destruction which flies from them.
啊,我的女儿,这是人类多么可恶的混乱和多么可鄙的盲目行为啊!因为上主无偿地给予他们生活所需的一切(注:如阳光,雨露、空气、水等),他们却不感谢祂,甚至也不承认祂,因为祂公正地,有时是最仁慈地拒绝他们,他们却焦躁不安和满怀骄傲地欲望,试图以不义和不许可的方式获得更多,心中的欲望不断膨胀,最后蚕食人心,堕入万劫不复的深渊。
The first sin alone, committed by man, was sufficient to cancel man's right to the friendly service of all the other creatures; and if the Lord himself would not restrain them, they would turn in vengeance upon man and refuse to render any service or help for sustaining his life.
单凭人类犯下的原罪就足以取消人类享有其他所有受造物友善服务的权利;如果主不阻止其他所有受造物,它们就会向人类报复,拒绝为维持人类的生命而提供任何服务或帮助。
The heavens would deny them their light and benign influences, the fire would refuse its heat, the air would cease to serve for respiration, and all the other things would in their particular way refuse their services, since they would in justice be bound to refuse them.
天空将拒绝给出光明和良性的影响,火将拒绝给出热量,空气将不再为呼吸服务,所有其它事物将以其特定的方式拒绝给出服务,因为在正义中它们必然要拒绝给出。
Then when the earth would deny its fruits, and the elements their moderation and their assistance, and all the other creatures would arm themselves to avenge the wrongs of their Creator(Sap. 5, 18), perhaps disgraced man would humiliate himself in his vileness and would not heap up the wrath of the Lord for the unerring day of accountance, when all his dreadful guilt will be exposed.
然后,当大地不结出果实,拒绝给出元素的稳定和元素的协助时,当所有其它的受造物将武装自己,来为它们的创造者,所受的不公正的对待报仇时(智:5:18),或许蒙羞的人会在自已的恶行中羞辱自己,而不再于准确无误的天主算账之日,积累天主对他的义怒,那时他所有可怕的罪行都将暴露出来。
[经文〈智慧篇5:18〉:上主必以嫉愤作武器,武装受造之物来报复仇敌。 ]
359. But thou, my dear friend, fly from such base ingratitude, and humbly acknowledge that thou hast received thy being and life gratuitously, and that, gratuitously, its Author preserves it for thee.
359. 但是你,我亲爱的朋友,远离这种卑鄙的忘恩负义,该谦卑地承认你已经无偿地获得了您的存在和生命,而且,造物主也无偿地为你保存着它(注,这里指她的存在和生命,而不是一切的受造物)。
Freely dost thou receive all the other benefits, without any merit of thine ; and thus, receiving much and repaying little, thou makest thyself daily less worthy of favors, while the liberality of the Most High grows continually with thy indebtedness.
你白白地接受所有从天主而来的美好的恩赐,但愿你谨记,一切所有都来自天主,没有你的任何功绩。 因此,你要知道你无论付出多少,都无法回报天主的爱,因为一切都是主所赐。如果你将至高者天主所赐的交还天主,至高者的慷慨会随着你的交出而更多的赐福给你。
Let this thought be uppermost in thee always, in order that it awaken and move thee to many acts of virtue. If any of the irrational creatures fail thee, I desire thee to rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to his Majesty, and bless them for their obedience to the Creator.
让这种思想永远在你心中占据最重要的地位,以便唤醒并把您带入许多圣德行为。如果任何非理性的受造物辜负了你,我希望你在主里欢喜,感谢荣耀尊威的天主,并祝福他们服从造物主。
If the rational creatures persecute thee, love them with all thy heart and regard them as the instruments of divine justice, which afford thee some opportunity of rendering satisfaction for thy deficiency.
如果理性的受造物迫害您,请全心全意地爱他们,并将其视为天主的正义的手段,这为你提供了一些机会来补足您的不足。
Rather strengthen and console thyself in labors, adversities and tribulations, not only considering them as fully deserved by the faults committed, but deeming them ornaments of the soul and most rich jewels given thee by thy Spouse.
在劳苦、逆境、和磨难中克胜自我,而不仅将其视为是你犯错应该得到的惩罚,还应将其视为灵魂的装饰品,以及你的净配赐给您的最丰富的珠宝。
360. Let this be the answer to thy doubt: over and above this I wish to give thee an instruction, which may be found in all the chapters. Consider, my soul the punctuality of my mother Anne in fulfilling the precept of the law of the Lord, to whose Majesty this solicitude was very pleasing.
360.让这成为您疑问的答案:除此以外,我还想给您一个指示,在所有各章中都可以找到该指示。请想想,我的灵魂,我的母亲亚纳对上主一切诫命,怀念不忘,依照遵行;天主对那遵守他诫命的人,感到非常的高兴。
In this thou shouldst imitate her by observing inviolate each and every one of the precepts of thy rules and constitutions ; for God will reward most liberally this fidelity and severely punish any negligence in this matter.
在这方面,你应该效法我的母亲亚纳,遵守你的规则和规章的每一条戒律,以免其受侵犯;因为天主会最慷慨地回报这种忠诚,若有疏忽,为了你灵魂的益处,天主必严厉惩罚。
Without sin I was conceived and it was not necessary to present me to the priest in order that the Lord might purify me; nor was this necessary for my mother, since she was very holy.
我无染原罪受孕,本没有必要将自已奉献给司祭,好叫天主可以洁净我;同样的,这对我的母亲也不是必须的,因为她是非常圣洁的。
Nevertheless we humbly obeyed the law and thereby we merited great increase of virtue and grace. Despising just and wise laws and frequently dispensing with them, destroys the worship and fear of God, and fatally confuses government among men.
然而,我们谦卑地遵守了法律,因此,我们赚得了伟大的圣德和圣宠。鄙视正义和智慧的法律并经常篡改它们,破坏对天主的朝拜和敬畏,不可避免地必使人的管理混乱。
Beware of easily dispensing in the obligations of the religious state, either for thyself or for others. If infirmity or some other just cause make it advisable, let it be done with moderation and with the approbation of the confessor, thus justifying dispensation before God and before men by the approbation of holy obedience.
谨防轻易地为自己或他人篡改信仰规定的义务。如果因为软弱或其他正当的原因,这样做是可以谅解的,那就应当有节制,并且征得司祭(听告解神父)的同意,这样就可以在天主和人面前,以神圣的服从来证明赦免的正当性。
If thou findest thyself weary or weakened, do not at once become remiss in the strict observance, for God will give thee strength according to thy faith in Him. Do not give any dispensation on pretext of being overworked.
如果你发现自己疲倦或虚弱,请不要立刻在苦修上懈怠,因为天主会照着你对祂的信德给予你力量。不要以劳累过度为借口免除任何责任。
Make that which is less serve and advance that which is the greater, let the creatures serve the Creator. On account of thy position as superioress thou hast less excuse; for in the observation of the laws thou must give a good example, leading on the others.
让较弱小的去服务,并推进较强大的,让受造物为造物主服务。由于你的女院长的职位,你的借口更少了。因为在遵守法律的过程中,你必须树立好榜样,以带动其他人。
Therefore, for thyself, no merely human motive can serve as an excuse, though thou mayest sometimes excuse thy sisters and subjects on such account. Note moreover, my dearest, that I desire thee to lead in perfection ; therefore this rigor is necessary, not even taking into consideration, that the observance of the precepts is a duty to God and men.
因此,对你自己来说,不能以为某些人只守其中一条或部分戒条,或某些戒条可以不守,这人的动机是不能作为借口的,尽管你有时可能会以此为借口来为您的姐妹和下属辩解。另外,我最亲爱的,请注意我希望你达至成全。因此,这种严格性是必要的,即使没有考虑到遵守戒律是对天主和人的责任。
Let no one think that it is enough to fulfill all obligations toward the Lord, and at the same time tread under foot the duty towards his neighbor, to whom is due good example and avoidance of all real scandal.
不要让任何人认为履行天主的所有义务就足够了,同时却践踏对邻人的责任,对邻人他们应是好的榜样,避免在邻人面前立恶表。
O Queen and Mistress of all creation, would that I could attain the purity and the virtue of the supernal spirits, in order that this inferior part of my being, which weighs down the soul (Sap. 9, 15), may prompt me to fulfill thy celestial teachings.
哦,所有受造物的元后和主母啊,我希望我能获得纯洁和超凡神圣的德行,以便这重压我灵低劣属土的部分(智慧书9:15)能促使我完成您的天国教导。
[经文〈智慧书9:15〉:因为,这必腐朽的肉身,重压着灵魂;这属于土的寓所,迫使精神多虑。 ]
I have become burdensome unto myself (Job 7, 20) ; but with thy intercession and the gracious favor of the Most High I will be able to obey thy will and his with a loving promptitude of heart.
我已经成了我自己的重担(约伯传7:20)。但有了您的转求和至高者的仁慈眷顾,我将能够以敏捷的爱心,顺服您的意志和至高者的旨意。
[经文〈约伯传7:20〉:监察人者啊!我犯罪与你何干?为何叫我当你的箭靶,使我成为你的重担? ]
Let not thy intercession and support, and the guidance of thy holy and wise counsels ever fail me!